Stephen Lawrence QC Michael Mansfield holds ‘people’s commission’ on A&E closure

A barrister renowned for his work on the Stephen Lawrence and Bloody Sunday public inquiries will tomorrow lead an examination of plans to downgrade a London hospital.

Michael Mansfield QC and barristers at his chambers will work for free conducting a “people’s commission” into the proposed cuts to Lewisham hospital’s accident and emergency and maternity departments.

The day-long mock hearing, before an audience at the Broadway theatre in Catford, will be held along the lines of an official inquiry.

Doctors and patients will be called to give evidence before a panel of experts — Mr Mansfield, medical ethics expert Baroness Warnock and author Blake Morrison — considers its verdict.

Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has not replied to an invitation to give evidence.

The hearing launches a “Justice for Lewisham” week that on Tuesday will see the High Court consider applications brought by campaigners and Lewisham council for a judicial review of the plans.

They were proposed on behalf of Mr Hunt as a way of tackling a £207 million debt at the neighbouring South London Healthcare trust.

Many of Lewisham’s 110,000 annual casualty patients would have to travel further for emergency care, while about 2,000 women a year with a “high-risk” pregnancy would have to compete for a place in already oversubscribed neighbouring units.

Two protest marches have been held which have seen about 40,000 people take to the streets.

Mr Mansfield told the Standard the Lewisham case raised issues of national significance as a solvent, well-run hospital was being used to bail out a failing NHS trust of which it was not part.

He said: “I feel strongly that these are the issues that really matter. The public I meet are really fed up to the back teeth about the way they are being treated by central government, of whatever hue. I think they are angered and I think they are right.

“Lewisham is not only viable, it’s a very successful unit. The question is: what on earth are they doing wanting to close it?

“There are many other trusts in the whole of the NHS which are in trouble. What are they going to do — close successful hospitals that don’t happen to be in the Private Finance Initiative?”

The South London Healthcare trust was crippled by PFI debts at two of its hospitals — Queen Elizabeth in

Woolwich and Princess Royal in Bromley. Mr Hunt ordered the trust to be dissolved in October and services reconfigured — even though this will cost £665.8 million, three times the original debt.